Today we have added the 1/48 Hasegawa Henschel Hs129B-2 to our OPENBOX collection.

Checkout this discontinued 1/48 Bf 110E kit from Eduard that is resealed and inspected and like new condition.

The Hs129 was developed as a ground attack aircraft. The prototype Hs129V1 made its maiden flight in May 1939. Subsequently, the Luftwaffe placed an order for the first production run of Hs129A-0 machines, but it was found the engines for these aircraft produced insufficient horsepower for satisfactory operational performance. As it seemed there was little chance that the performance of the engines could be improved, the Luftwaffe cancelled the order and the Hs129 project was temporarily shelved. The aircraft, however, was eventually saved by the adoption of the Gnome-Rhône 14M rotary engines that fell into German hands upon the occupation of France in 1940. With the new engines installed, the performance of the aircraft increased dramatically.

The second production run, known as the Hs129B-0, featured the Gnome-Rhône engines and a pilot field of view significantly increased over the poor visibility afforded by the cramped cockpit of the earlier Hs129 models. Production continued with the Hs129B-1 and the upgunned Hs129B-2 types. The original fixed armament configuration of the Hs129 featured two 7.92mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons, but later versions of the Hs129 had a 30mm cannon installed under the fuselage in addition to the standard load-out, giving the aircraft formidable destructive power to bring to bear against ground targets. The Hs129 saw extensive action on the Russian, North Africa, and Italian fronts.